Automatic vending machine with integrated capsule feeding apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention refers to an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus.  
     The inventive apparatus comprises a first dispensing unit ( 2 ) for delivering products that it withdraws from one or more first storage compartments ( 3 ), and is characterized in that it further comprises at least a second dispensing unit ( 4 ) for delivering products packaged in the form of capsules ( 5 ) that are stored loosely within second storage compartments ( 6 ).

The present invention refers to an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus.

Nowadays, particularly felt in automatic product vending machines, and in particular those dedicated to food and similar product vending operations, is the need for consumers, i.e. buyers to be offered as wide as possible a variety of products, while having all these products duly stored and available for vending within the same machine. An obvious consequence of the resulting increase in the number and types of products offered by the machine for automatic vending, along with the fact that these products are quite often available in the form of differently sized and shaped packages, is a corresponding increase in the size and the weight of the vending machine itself. Furthermore, keeping such a large variety of types of products, especially pre-packaged products, on offer for vending implies considerably longer procedures to be followed for restocking the vending machine, upon the latter having run out of supplies on sale, since restocking generally involves placing the goods to be sold in an orderly arrangement, such as for example by placing the individual items into stacks or within the appropriate spaces that are provided to this purpose between the coils of a spiral or the circular sectors of a wheel or a dispensing belt, or the like. The use of several automatic machines installed in a side-by-side arrangement may certainly enable the number and the variety of products on offer for sale to be increased, but does certainly not solve any of the afore cited machine maintenance problems, nor enables the costs for managing and running the same machines to be reduced.

It therefore is the object of the present invention to provide an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus, which does away with the afore-indicated drawbacks and disadvantages.

Within this general object, it is a purpose of the present invention to provide an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus, which enables a large variety of products to be kept on offer for public sale, while reducing not only the time required for the machine to be restocked, but also the costs for managing and running the same machine.

Another purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus, which enables the space that is available to such purpose within the vending machine to be used in a most rational manner, thereby allowing a large number of products to be stored in a relatively small space.

Another purpose yet of the present invention is to provide an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus, which is extremely versatile and capable of integrating the functions and purposes of several vending machines of traditional kind into a single vending machine in accordance with the present invention.

According to the present invention, these aims as set forth above are reached in an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus incorporating the features and characteristics as recited in the appended claim 1. Features and advantages of the present invention will anyway be more readily understood from the description that is given below by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematical view of a first embodiment of an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematical view of a second embodiment of an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematical view of a third embodiment of an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a schematical view of a fourth embodiment of an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIGS. 1 to 4 can be noticed to each illustrate a different embodiment of an automatic vending machine with an integrated capsule dispensing apparatus according to the present invention. Generally speaking, this vending machine can in turn be noticed to be comprised of an outer casing or cabinet 1 for containing and/or displaying the products offered for sale, as well as accommodating the various devices needed to handle and deliver such products. Within this outer casing 1 there are in fact provided a first dispensing unit 2 for delivering products that it withdraws from one or more first storage compartments 3, and at least a second dispensing unit 4 for delivering products packaged in the form of capsules (5) that are stored loosely within second storage compartments 6.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of a vending machine according to the present invention, in which said first storage compartments 3 of the first dispensing unit 2 are adapted to hold products intended for brewing, such as for instance tea, coffee, milk or chocolate and the like in powder form. Said first storage compartments 3 are further adapted to supply at least a brewing unit 7, in which the actual process takes place for the preparation of hot or cold beverages in accordance with the selection made by the buyer. It will however be appreciated that, if desired, each one of said first storage compartments 3 may be associated to a single brewing unit 7. These hot or cold beverages are then delivered by the vending machine directly into a cup 8, which may be picked and withdrawn by the buyer through a first pick-up compartment 9. The second dispensing unit 4 comprises an unloading conduit 10 adapted to convey the capsules 5 from said second storage compartments 6 towards and into a second pick-up compartment 11. It will be readily appreciated that a really large variety of products may be dispensed with the help of the capsules 5, and not necessarily depending on the other products that can be dispensed, i.e. delivered by the vending machine. So, for instance, the second dispensing unit may dispense capsules 5 containing not only edible products in liquid or solid form, such as different types of sugar, coffee cream, marmalade, jam, cereals, candies, and the like, but also such items as refreshing or moisturized tissues and napkins, surprise prizes and any other similar, small-sized item.

A second embodiment of the vending machine according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 2, in which the first dispensing unit 2 is adapted to supply pre-packaged products in a solid form, such as for instance sweet and/or salty snacks, French fries or chips, candies, and the like. The same first dispensing unit 2 may of course be adapted to dispense pre-packaged beverages, such as for instance any of the wide variety of beverages that are currently available in packages of food-grade paper or plastic material. Preferably, the delivery of said pre-packaged products and/or beverages is effected through the rotation of spiral-shaped devices 12, in which the space between two successive coils of a same spiral defines said first storage compartments 3. The second dispensing unit 4 delivers the capsules 5 through an unloading conduit 10 so as to make said capsules 5 available for collection in a pick-up cavity 13, which is the same as the one from which the products delivered by the first dispensing unit 2 can be collected by the buyer.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a third embodiment of the present invention, in which the first dispensing unit 2 is similar to the one described in connection with the first embodiment considered hereinbefore with reference to FIG. 1. In this third embodiment, the capsules 5 delivered by the second dispensing unit 4 are fed into a brewing unit 7′, which is of the kind adapted to prepare hot or cold beverages by infusion of substances contained in capsules. Since brewing units are largely known to exist in the art, which are capable of operating with both infusion substances in the form of loose powder and infusion substances contained in capsules, the possibility is given for the vending machine to be fitted and set up in such a manner as to have both the products in said first storage compartments 3 and the capsules 5 accommodated in second storage compartments 6 of said second dispensing unit 4 being fed into the same brewing unit. In this third embodiment of the present invention, the first dispensing unit 2 and the second dispensing unit 4 deliver the so produced hot or cold beverages directly into a cup 8 that can be collected by the buyer through a common pick-up cavity 13.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4, in which the first dispensing unit 2 combines the features indicated for the first dispensing unit 2 in connection with both the afore-described first and second embodiment of the present invention. In this case, in fact, the first dispensing unit 2 is adapted to both dispense pre-packaged products and beverages and supply a brewing unit for the preparation of hot or cold beverages by infusion. Such first dispensing unit 2 comprises first storage compartments 3 of a kind adapted to accommodate infusion products, as well as of a kind adapted to accommodate pre-packaged products and beverages. The delivery of said pre-packaged products and beverages takes place in the same manner as previously described with reference to the second embodiment of the present invention, whereas, as far as the preparation of hot or cold beverages by infusion is concerned, the same considerations apply as set forth in connection with the afore-described first embodiment of the present invention.

The second dispensing unit 2 is similar to the one described in connection with the first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1. The products delivered by the two dispensing units 2 and 4 can be collected by the buyer from a common pick-up cavity 13 that is provided with means 14 adapted to firmly retain a cup 8 into which said hot or cold beverages are being poured.

Fully apparent from the above description is therefore the ability of the the present invention to effectively reach the afore cited aims and advantages by providing an automatic vending machine with integrated capsule feeding apparatus, which, apart from being very versatile, enables a large number and variety of products to be kept on offer for sale to the public, all these products being stored in a most rational manner within the same machine. It has been further found that the present invention actually enables the time needed to restock a vending machine to be considerably reduced, owing to the merchandise being partly loaded loosely, i.e. in no pre-established order in a storage compartment, thereby deriving the advantage of being able to store a large number of products in a relatively small-sized space, while at the same time reducing maintenance and operating costs. Fully apparent from the above description is finally the capability of the present invention of actually integrating the functions and purposes of several vending machines of a traditional kind into a single vending machine in accordance with the present invention.

It should be noticed that the materials used, as well as the shapes and the sizing of the individual items of the apparatus of the invention, may each time be selected so as to more appropriately meet the particular requirements or suit the particular application.

The various items and parts entering the construction of the apparatus of the present invention shall of course not be embodied strictly and solely in the manner that has been described and illustrated above, but can rather be implemented in a number of different embodiments, all of which falling within the scope of the present invention. 

1. Automatic vending machine comprising a first dispensing unit (2) for delivering products that it withdraws from one or more first storage compartments (3), characterized in that it further comprises at least a second dispensing unit (4) for delivering products packaged in capsules (5) that are stored loosely within second storage compartments (6).
 2. Automatic vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said capsules (5) and said products withdrawn from one or more first storage compartments (3) are dispended towards and into the same product pick-up cavity (13).
 3. Automatic vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said first dispensing unit (2) delivers pre-packaged products in a solid form.
 4. Automatic vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said first dispensing unit (2) delivers pre-packaged beverages.
 5. Automatic vending machine according to claim 3, characterized in that said the delivery of said pre-packaged products and beverages is effected through the rotation of spiral-shaped devices (12).
 6. Automatic vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said first storage compartments (3) are adapted to supply at least a brewing unit (7) for the preparation of hot or cold beverages.
 7. Automatic vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said capsules (5) dispensed by said second dispensing unit (4) are supplied to at least a brewing unit (7) for the preparation of hot or cold beverages.
 8. Automatic vending machine according to claim 6, characterized in that both the products in said first storage compartments (3) and the capsules (5) dispensed by said second dispensing unit (4) are fed into the same brewing unit.
 9. Automatic vending machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said first dispensing unit (2) is adapted to both dispense prepackaged products and beverages and supply a brewing unit for the preparation of hot or cold beverages by infusion.
 10. Automatic vending machine vending machines according to claim 1, characterized by what has been described and illustrated in and with reference to the accompanying drawings.
 11. Automatic vending machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said the delivery of said pre-packaged products and beverages is effected through the rotation of spiral-shaped devices (12).
 12. Automatic vending machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said capsules (5) dispensed by said second dispensing unit (4) are supplied to at least a brewing unit (7) for the preparation of hot or cold beverages.
 13. Automatic vending machine according to claim 3, characterized in that said capsules (5) dispensed by said second dispensing unit (4) are supplied to at least a brewing unit (7) for the preparation of hot or cold beverages.
 14. Automatic vending machine according to claim 4, characterized in that said capsules (5) dispensed by said second dispensing unit (4) are supplied to at least a brewing unit (7) for the preparation of hot or cold beverages.
 15. Automatic vending machine according to claim 5, characterized in that said capsules (5) dispensed by said second dispensing unit (4) are supplied to at least a brewing unit (7) for the preparation of hot or cold beverages.
 16. Automatic vending machine according to claim 11, characterized in that said capsules (5) dispensed by said second dispensing unit (4) are supplied to at least a brewing unit (7) for the preparation of hot or cold beverages.
 17. Automatic vending machine according to claim 16, characterized in that said capsules (5) dispensed by said second dispensing unit (4) are supplied to at least a brewing unit (7) for the preparation of hot or cold beverages.
 18. Automatic vending machine according to claim 7, characterized in that both the products in said first storage compartments (3) and the capsules (5) dispensed by said second dispensing unit (4) are fed into the same brewing unit.
 19. Automatic vending machine according to claim 13, characterized in that both the products in said first storage compartments (3) and the capsules (5) dispensed by said second dispensing unit (4) are fed into the same brewing unit.
 20. Automatic vending machine according to claim 14, characterized in that both the products in said first storage compartments (3) and the capsules (5) dispensed by said second dispensing unit (4) are fed into the same brewing unit. 